At Cosmetic Surgery Center in Santa Barbara, one procedure that many people inquire about is liposuction. Liposuction improves the contours of the arms, legs, torso and breasts by removing excess fat and/or skin or adding fat to areas where it is needed. Usually the procedure is done through small incisions in the skin.

For many people, the most common problem is the upper arm. If fat is the main issue, it can be treated with liposuction without skin removal. In some cases, the excess skin may need to be removed – if it is a small amount, often the removal can be confined to or near the armpit, with minimal or no scar visibility.

Another problem area that people face is the abdomen. These bulges can almost always be treated with liposuction with the small incisions usually hidden in the navel, public hair or under the bikini line. If skin needs to be removed, a “mini tummy tuck” is often sufficient where the scar will lie at the upper edge of the pubic hair. On a more full scale tummy tuck, the incision will be extended out to the sides with the abdominal muscles sewn together to further flatten the abdomen.

Lastly, many people find fat accumulation in the inner and outer thighs (saddlebag area) which can also be treated with liposuction. The incisions are hidden in the pubic hair and buttock creases. If skin removal is needed for the inner thigh, the incision line should lie in the groin and upper thigh with little visibility.

It is important to point out that liposuction is a body contouring, not a weight loss procedure. Patients are encouraged to have their weight under control before liposuction. We perform liposuction, tummy tucks and more at our fully-accredited surgical suite at the Cosmetic Surgery Center in Santa Barbara.

If you have questions, we encourage you to take the time to schedule a consultation at either our Santa Barbara office, 805-563-0000, or our Oxnard office, 805-988-1000.